A balloon equipped with a high-performance surveillance camera has been hovering over the waterfront area in Koto Ward, Tokyo, where many of the competition venues for the Tokyo Games are located.
Measuring six meters in diameter, the balloon has been deployed as a watchful eye in the sky, monitoring for suspicious activity from its vantage point 100 meters above the sea.
The Metropolitan Police Department began operating the balloon on July 6 as a lookout for accidents, traffic jams, and terrorist plots.
Although similar balloons were used at the Sochi Olympics in 2014 and the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016, this is the first time that the Israel-made balloon has appeared on Japan's skyline.
Areas to be intensively monitored by the balloon include skateboarding venue Ariake Urban Sports Park, triathlon venue Odaiba Marine Park, and the Ariake Tennis Park.
Footage captured by the camera is being transmitted to MPD headquarters, where officials will work around the clock checking for irregularities until Sept. 6, the day after the Paralympic closing ceremony.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
